Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Join us as we transform 6,000 sq ft of land in the White River State Park into a demonstration urban vegetable farm. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is providing design assistance, materials and with the help of volunteers, will plant vegetables and build garden structures.

Visit http://www.kibi.org/volunteer_project_calendar to sign-up for schedule workdays. If you are interesting in volunteering in other ways, please email Laura Henderson, urbanearthindy@gmail.com.

Please bring a reusable water bottle with you! All tools and materials are provided, along with water and snacks. If you would like to contribute a snack, please email Laura Henderson at urbanearthindy@gmail.com.

March 14, 2010: Sunday 1-4 p.m. at the garden in White River State Park.

Growing Places Indy is committed to developing the “Culture” of agriculture and food in the urban setting of Indianapolis. We are working to cultivate models for urban gardening, to engage community in our local food systems, to nurture the growth of neighborhood farmers markets, to seed entrepreneurship related to local food systems, and to grow leaders in the local food community.

Our vision is for healthier communities, a sustainable future for urban and farm land ecology, a burgeoning local food economy, and a vibrant and diverse food culture in Indianapolis.

Our Initial Project:

The Growing Places Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park

To introduce Growing Places Indy and the concept of developing the Culture of food and urban agriculture in the city of Indianapolis, our initial project is the Growing Places Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park. This 6,000 sq. ft. garden, located at the intersection of Washington St. and Old National Road at the foot of the State Museum Lawn, offers the visiting public the opportunity to see, read about and get hands-on experience in a working urban vegetable farm.

What’s growing in the garden?

This initial garden location will be planted with: 1) heirloom , rare and endangered crop varieties that preserve agricultural and socio-cultural heritage, as well as crop biodiversity 2) specialty crops that are underrepresented in the marketplace to stimulate consumer demand and subsequently grower supply.

How will the food be used?

The produce grown this year will be sold at City Market Farmers Market and to downtown area restaurants. Additional produce will be donated to feed homeless children in Indianapolis through School on Wheels.

Who will work the garden?

In the first year, this vegetable farm will be managed by Laura Henderson and Matthew Jose, interns from Butler University, IUPUI and Herron High School. YOU can join as a volunteer on workdays or by appointment.

Why a working vegetable farm rather than an allotment based community garden?

Urban AgriCULTURAL development requires more urban gardens/farms, more consumer access to farmers markets and farm stands, more product to supply cafes, restaurants, grocers, hospitals, schools, and other food service operations. Our goal is to enable individuals to engage in Urban AgriCultural development as a consumer, a grower raising food in the city, a producer creating products and meals from the produce we grow, as well as a teacher or leader helping to do more of the above. The sale of produce enables us to develop a self-sustaining organization operating in service to the community in the development of Urban AgriCulture.

Our sincere gratitude:

We’d like to thank those who are providing the funding necessary to make the Growing Places Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park possible:

If you are interested in making a financial contribution, in-kind donation, or other contribution through official partnership to this project, please email Laura Henderson at urbanearthindy@gmail.com.

About Me

URBAN – (adjective): in, relating to or characteristic of a city or town.
CULTURE – (noun): a refined understanding or appreciation of • the customs, arts, social institutions and achievements of a particular citizenry, people or social group regarded collectively • (with adjective): the attitudes or behaviors characteristic of a particular group or movement – the emerging Food Culture • (verb): maintain in conditions suitable for growth • (From Latin): cultura – ‘growing, cultivation.’
AGRICULTURE – (noun): the science or practice of farming • (From Latin): agr- ‘field’ + cultura – ‘growing, cultivation.’